Ammunition handling system for dispensing discrete rounds and gun system embodying same



United States Patent Inventor Ivan N. Vuceta Los Angeles, CaliforniaAppl. No. 736,509 Filed June 12, 1968 Patented Sept. 22, 1970 AssigneeTRW Inc.

Redondo Beach, California a corporation of Ohio AMMUNITION HANDLINGSYSTEM FOR DISPENSING DISCRETE ROUNDS AND GUN SYSTEM EMBODYING SAME 2Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 89/33 Int. Cl F41d 9/06 Field 01' Search 89/13, 33,

33D, 33MC, 33.1, 33.12, 33.16, 33.25,155

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 487,238 12/1892 Accles 89/332,831,401 4/1958 Dardick.. 89/33X 2,971,440 2/1961 OBrien 89/155X3,421,409 1/1969 Findlay 89/33 3,437,005 4/ 1969 Trumper 89/33 PrimaryExaminer -Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-Stephen C. BentleyAttorneys-Daniel T. Anderson, Gerald. Singer and Alfons ValukonisABSTRACT: An ammunition handling; system having ammunition infeed means,a gun with a rotary ammunition receiver, and transfer means forreceiving ammunition in succession from the infeed means andtransferring or dispensing the rounds in succession to the receiver inaccurately timed relation to the receiver movement with the roundsdisposed in a predetermined attitude relative to the direction line ofreceiver movement.

Patented 'Sept. 22,- 1970 Sheet jam 6f 47702 xvi? Patented Sept. 22,1970 Sheet I I L- INVENTOR. flaw A/ Vz/Q'm Patented Sept. 22, 19703,529,509

qw'i' saw INVENTOR flaw 4 i ucfm 4770NEV AMMUNITION HANDLING SYSTEM FORDISPENSING DISCRETE ROUNDS AND GUN SYSTEM EMBODYING SAME RELATEDCOPENDING APPLICATIONS Reference is made herein to copending applicationSer. No. 72 l ,727. filed April 16. l968, and entitled Method of andArticle Handling System for Dispensing Discrete Articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l Field of the Invention This inventionrelates generally to the gun art and more particularly to a novelammunition handling system for feeding or dispensing beltless ammunitionrounds in succession to the rotary ammunition receiver of a gun inaccurately timed relation to the receiver movement with the roundsdisposed in a predetermined attitude relative to the direction line ofreceiver movement for lateral entrance into ammunition chambers in thereceiver.

As will appear from the ensuing description. the ammunition handlingsystem of the invention may be employed to advantage in a wide varietyof gun applications. The principal application of the invention.however, involves feeding of ammunition rounds to a gun, particularly ahigh firing rate open chamber gun. For this reason, the invention willbe disclosed in connection with this particular weapon application.

2. Prior Art Open chamber guns are known in the art. Particularly,practical guns of this type, for example, are disclosed in prior artU.S. Pat. Nos. 2,865,126; 2,847,784; 2.983123; 2.831.40l',

3,041,939; and 3,046,890. Generally speaking, an open chamber gun ischaracterized by a breech frame having a firing strap and containing arotary breech cylinder. This breech cylinder has a number of firingchambers spaced circumferentially about and opening laterally throughthe circumference of the cylinder. During firing operation of the gun,the cylinder is driven in rotation to rotate the firing chambers insuccession to ammunition infeed, firing, and ejection positions in thelisted sequence. The open side of each firing chamber, when in infeedposition, registers with a lateral ammunition infeed opening in thebreech frame to permit lateral infeed movement of an ammunition roundinto the chamber. When in firing position, the open side of each firingchamber is closed by the breech frame firing strap, and the firingchamber opens forwardly to a gun bore to condition the gun for firing anammunition round in the chamber. The open side of each firing chamber,when in ejection position, registers with a lateral ejection opening inthe breech frame to permit lateral ejection of the spent cartridge caseof a fired round, as well as an unfired round, from the chamber. Acharacteristic feature of the open chamber guns disclosed in theabove-mentioned prior art patents resides in the complementary.generally triangular round shapes of the firing chambers and ammunitionrounds. In this regard, it will be observed in the patents that eachfiring chamber and ammunition round has a generally triangular roundshape in transverse cross-section, such that when an ammunition round ispositioned in a firing chamber, one curved side of the round is exposedat the open side of the firing chamber. At least this exposed side ofeach round has substantially the same radius of curvature as the breechcylinder and is substantially flush with the cylinder circumference. Thefiring chambers and ammunition rounds may have either a generallyequilateral triangular round shape, in which event all three sides ofeach round and the two sides of the firing chamber have substantiallythe same radius of curvature as the breech cylinder, or a generallyisosceles triangular round shape, in which event only the exposed sideof each round has the same radius of curvature as the breech cylinder.With this latter configuration, the two remaining sides of each roundand the two walls of each firing chamber have a common radius ofcurvature which differs from that of the breech cylinder.

An open chamber gun of the type under discussion may have either a fixedbarrel or a rotary barrel construction. A fixed barrel open chamber gunis one in which the gun barrel or barrels are secured to and remainstationary with the breech frame. During firing operation of such afixed barrel gun. the breech cylinder is driven in intermittent rotationin such a way that each cylinder firing chamber is momentarily arrestedin firing position. and an ammunition round is fired in the chamberwhile the latter is stationary in this position. A rotary barrel openchamber gun, on the other hand, has a number of gun barrels which aresecured to the breech cylinder. in coaxial alignment with its firingchambers, respectively, and rotate with the cylinder. lDuring firingoperation of such a rotary barrel gun. the breech cylinder and barrelsare driven in continuous rotation, and each ammunition round is firedduring rotation of its containing firing chamber through firingposition.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,939 in the above list of prior art patents disclosesa rotary barrel open chamber gun. The remaining patents disclose fixedbarrel open chamber guns. As is wellknown to those versed in the openchamber gun art, a major advantage of a rotary barrel gun over a fixedbarrel gun resides in the high firing rate capability of the rotarybarrel gun. It will become evident as the description proceeds that thearticle handling system or ammunition feed system of the invention maybe utilized to feed open chamber ammunition rounds to either a fixedbarrel or a rotary barrel open chamber gun. However, the invention isparticularly concerned with and will be disclosed in connection with itsapplication to a rotary barrel open chamber gun.

Briefly, during operation of an open chamber gun, the open chamberammunition rounds are fed laterally to the breech cylinder in such a waythat each round undergoes lateral infeed movement into a cylinder firingchamber in infeed position, through the open side of the chamber. Theround then rotates laterally with its containing chamber to firingposition, where the round is fired. After firing, the spent cartridgecase of the round is rotated laterally to ejection position and ejectedlaterally from the firing chamber through the open side of the chamber.

At this point, it is significant to recall that article feed systems ofthe general class to which the present invention pertains present twobasic requirements. These requirements involve (l) feeding or dispensingarticles in succession to a moving article receiver in accurately timedrelation to its movement, and (2) presenting each article to thereceiver in a predetermined attitude relative to the direction line ofreceiver movement. Consider, for example, an open chamber gun. Thebreech cylinder of such a gun constitutes a moving or rotating articlereceiver, and the open chamber ammunition rounds constitute articleswhich must be fed in succession to the cylinder, with the longitudinalaxes of the rounds parallel to the cylinder axis, as the cylinder firingchambers rotate to infeed position. It will be evident to those versedin the a'rt that the ammunition rounds may be fed to such a gun invarious ways. For example, the rounds may be transported in successionto infeed position relative to the rotating breech cylinder with theadjacent rounds spaced a distance equal to the circumferential spacingbetween the cylinder firing chambers and at an infeed velocity such thateach round arrives in infeed position concurrently with an empty firingchamber. The aforementioned prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,939 disclosesan ammunition feed system of this kind. This type of feed system, whilehaving several advantages, also possesses certain disadvantages whichthe present invention seeks to overcome. Thus, the ammunition roundsmust be joined by a belt or other equivalent conveyor means formaintaining the proper spacing, orientation, and infeed velocity of theincoming rounds. This belt, in turn, reduces the ammunition storageefficiency, increases the overall size and weight of the ammunition feedsystem, creates a problem of belt disposal, and adds an effective masswhich must be transported by the ammunition feed system. Another seriousdeficiency of such ammunition belt feed systems resides in the fact thatthe infeed velocity of the ammunition round and the ammunition belt isrequired to equal the peripheral or rim velocity of the rotating breechcylinder. In a high firing rate open chamber gun, this cylinder rimvelocity is relatively high and may result in an excessive ammunitioninfeed velocity.

The remaining prior art patents referred to earlier disclose analternative. beltless method of feeding ammunition rounds to an openchamber gun. In this case. the rounds are completely detached from oneanother and are fed in succession to the gun with the adjacent roundsdisposed in mutual contact. A particular advantage of this beltlessammunition feed method resides in the fact that the required ammunitioninfeed rate, i.e.. rounds per unit time to be delivered to the gun, maybe achieved with an ammunition infeed velocity which is substantiallyless than the infeed velocity required to the belt feed system discussedabove. This is due, of course, to the elimination of the spaces betweenthe adjacent incoming ammunition rounds in the beltless feed method,whereby given infeed velocity of the incoming rounds results in agreater ammunition infeed rate. in terms of the number of rounds perunit time delivered to the gun, as compared to the effective ammunitioninfeed rate of the belt-type ammunition feed system.

Insofar as ammunition infeed velocity is concerned, therefore. abeltless amunition feed method is the ideal method of feeding openchamber ammunition rounds to a high firing rate open chamber gun.However, the existing beltless ammunition feed systems, such as thosedisclosed in the earlier mentioned patents, are ill-suited to orincapable of use with such a gun for the reason that these feed systemsrequire intermittent infeed motion of the incoming ammunition rounds.This results from the fact that the incoming ammunition rounds undergoan effectively single step acceleration directly from their infeed pathinto the breech cylinder firing chambers. That is to say, the leadinground in the ammunition infeed column of mutually contacting ammunitionrounds is located in direct infeed relation relative to the breechcyclinder. As each empty firing chamber rotates to firing position, thecurrently leading round enters the chamber directly from the infeedcolumn and the remaining rounds in the column are advanced to locate thefollowing round in direct infeed relation relative to the breechcylinder. Thus, the entire ammunition infeed column must be periodicallyarrested and accelerated as the successive rounds in the column enterthe cylinder firing chambers. Obviously, this intermittent infeed motionof the incoming ammunition rounds renders the existing beltlessammunition feed systems completely unsuitable for use with high fire'rate open chamber guns because of the high frequency of theacceleration and deceleration cycles and the large forces required toperiodically accelerate and arrest the incoming ammunition column.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improvedammunition handling system of the character described embodying a feedsystem for feeding or dispensing unattached or beltless ammunitionrounds to a gun having a rotary ammunition receiver. A unique and highlyimportant advantage of the feed system resides in the fact that itpermits uniform infeed motion of the rounds being fed and thuseliminates the necessity of intermittently arresting and acceleratingthe incoming rounds, as required in the prior art feed systems discussedabove. In this regard, then, the present feed system is ideally suitedfor use as an ammunition feed system for high firing rate open chamberguns.

In general terms, the ammunition feed system of the invention ischaracterized by an ammunition infeed means and an ammunition transfermeans. The infeed means is equipped with a suitable transport mechanismfor conveying or transporting the rounds to be handled in successionfrom an ammunition storage facility. such as a storage magazine, to thetransfer means. The incoming rounds are thus transported by the infeedmeans with the adjacent rounds disposed in mutual contact. as in theexisting beltless article or ammunition feed systems referred toearlier.

The transfer means of the present feed system comprises a rotaryammunition transfer wheel which is interposed between the infeed meansand the gun receiver and operates to transport the incoming rounds insuccession from the infeed means to the receiver. This transfer wheelhas a number of ammunition receiving pockets spaced circumferentiallyabout and opening laterally through the circumference of the wheel.During operation of the feed system. the transfer wheel is driven inunison with movement of the receiver to cause rotation of the transferwheel pockets in succession through an infeed transfer station adjacentthe infeed means and an outfeed transfer station adjacent the receiver.As each pocket rotates through the infeed station, it receives theleading round from the infeed means. Each round on the transfer wheel isthereafter ejected from its containing wheel pocket to the gun receiverduring subsequent rotation of the pocket through the outfeed transferstation. The transfer wheel pockets are constructed and arranged tospace and orient the rounds during their transfer from the infeed meansto the receiver in such a way that the rounds are presented insuccession to the receiver in accurately timed relation to the movementof the receiver through the outfeed transfer station and in apredetennined attitude relative to the direction line of the receivermovement.

A unique feature of the invention resides in the fact that the roundsbeing fed to the gun receiver undergo, effectively, a two-stepacceleration during their transfer from the infeed means to thereceiver. Thus, as will appear from the ensuing description, the roundsundergo an initial acceleration during their infeed transfer movementfrom the infeed means to the transfer wheel and a second accelerationduring their outfeed transfer movement from the transfer wheel to thereceiver. This multiple step accelerating action is effective to provideseveral unique and highly important advantages. For example, it permitsuniform or constant speed infeed movement of the rounds from theammunition storage facility to the transfer wheel and thus eliminatesthe necessity of intermittently arresting and accelerating the column ofcontacting rounds between the storage facility and the transfer wheel.Moreover, a relatively high effective ammunition infeed rate may beachieved with a relatively low, uniform infeed velocity. As aconsequence, the present feed system is ideally suited for use an anammunition feed system for feeding open chamber ammunition rounds to ahigh firing rate open chamber gun. Another advantage of the inventionresides in the fact that the peak acceleration loads to which the roundsare subjected during their transfer from the infeed means to thereceiver are minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through an ammunition handling systemaccording to the invention, in this instance an ammunition feed systemfor feeding open chamber ammunition rounds laterally in succession to anopen chamber gun;

FIG. la is a top plane view of the ammunition feed system shown in FIG.1;

FIGS. 2, 3. 4, and 5 are enlarged fragmentary detail views illustratingthe infeed transfer movement of successive ammunition rounds from anammunition infeed guide to a rotary ammunition transfer wheel of thefeed system;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary detail views illustrating theoutfeed transfer movement of successive ammunition rounds from thetransfer wheel to the rotating breech cylinder of the open chamber gun;and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged fragmentary detail views illustrating certainforce and velocity vectors active on the ammunition rounds during theirtransfer movement from the infeed guide to the transfer wheel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS in general terms. the inventionprovides a beltless ammunition feed system. represented in the drawingsby the ammunition feed system 10. for feeding discrete unattached orbeltless ammunition rounds 12 in succession to a rotating ammunitionreceiver 14 ofa gun. The feed system includes an ammunition infeed means16 and an ammunition transfer means 18. The infeed means 16 embodies anammunition transport mechanism 19 for conveying or transporting therounds 12 in succession along a prescribed path of motion from anammunition storage facility to the transfer means 18 with the roundsdisposed in sideby-side mutually contacting or abutting relation in arow or column extending lengthwise of their infeed path. The transfermeans 18 is located between the infeed means 16 and the receiver 14 andoperates to transfer the incoming rounds 12 in succession from theinfeed means to the receiver in such a way that the rounds are presentedto the receiver in accurately timed relation to the movement of thereceiver and in a predetermined attitude relative to the direction lineof receiver movement. In the particular inventive embodimentillustrated, the incoming rounds l2 undergo a two-step accelerationduring their transfer from the infeed means to the receiver. Thus. therounds are initially accelerated as they pass from the infeed means 16to the transfer means 18. Thereafter. the rounds are again ac celeratedas they pass from the transfer means to the receiver 14.

To this end, the transfer means 18 comprises a rotary transfer wheel 22having a number of ammunition receiving pockets 24 spacedcircumferentially about and opening laterally through the circumferenceof the transfer wheel. Drive means 26 are provided for driving the wheelin rotation to cause rotary motion of the wheel pockets 24 in successionthrough infeed and outfeed transfer stations I and O in alternatesequence. The infeed transfer station I is located at the outfeed end ofthe infeed means 16. The outfeed transfer station 0 is located along thepath of movement of the receiver 14.

Briefly, during operation of the present ammunition feed system 10,the'transport mechanism 19 is operated to convey or transport the rounds12 in succession along their infeed path from the ammunition storagefacility 20 to the infeed transfer station I of the transfer means 18.The rounds are thus transported from the storage facility to the infeedstation with the rounds disposed in side-by-side abutting relation in acolumn extending lengthwise of their infeed path. The transfer wheel 22is driven in unison with infeed movement of the rounds to the infeedstation and movement of the receiver 14 through the outfeed transferstation 0. As each transfer wheel pocket 24 rotates through the infeedposition 1, it receives from the infeed means the leading round of theammunition infeed column. The leading round then rotates with itscontaining transfer wheel pocket 24 to the outfeed transfer station 0,where the round is ejected, by ejection means 28, from the pocket to themoving receiver 14. According to one feature of the invention, thetransfer wheel pockets 24 are spaced and shaped to locate the roundscontained therein in accurately spaced and oriented relation relative totheir circular path of movement with the transfer wheel. As aconsequence, the rounds are fed or dispensed to the receiver 14 inaccurately timed relation to the movement of the receiver to the outfeedtransfer station 0 and in predetermined attitude relative to thedirection line of receiver movement through the station. Ac cording toanother feature of the illustrated feed system, the incoming rounds 12are transported through the infeed means 16 to the infeed transferstation I at a relatively slow uniform infeed velocity. As each transferwheel pocket 24 rotates through the station, the leading round currentlyemerging from the infeed means enters the pocket in such a way that theround is progressively accelerated from its infeed velocity along theammunition infeed path to an intermediate velocity along the circularpath of movement of the pocket from the infeed transfer station I to theoutfeed transfer station 0. This intermediated velocity is the transferwheel rim velocity. During subsequent rotation of each transfer wheelpocket through the outfeed station. its contained round is ejected fromthe pocket to the moving receiver 14. by ejection means 28, in such away that the round is again progressively accelerated from itsintermediate velocity to the velocity of the receiver through theoutfeed transfer station 0.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings. the particularinventive embodiment which has been selected for illustration is anammunition feed system for an open chamber gun 30. In this instance. therounds 12 comprise open chamber ammunition rounds and the receiver 14comprises the breech cylinder of the open chamber gun 30. The ammunitionstorage facility 20 is an ammunition magazine from which the ammunitionrounds 12 are fed in succession to the gun cylinder 14 by the ammunitionfeed system 10.

The illustrated open chamber gun 30 is a high firing rate, rotary barrelopen chamber gun. This gun has a breech frame 32 in which the breechcylinder 14 is rotatably mounted. Formed in the cylinder are a number oflongitudinally extending firing chambers 34 which are uniformly spacedabout and open laterally through the circumference of the cylinder. Eachfiring chamber is rotatable with the cylinder through infeed. fir ing.and ejection positions. When in infeed position. the open side of eachfiring chamber registers with a lateral ammunition infeed opening in oneside of the breech frame to permit lateral infeed movement of anammunition round 12 into the chamber. in firing position, the open sideof each firing chamber is closed by the breech frame firing strap 36 tocondition the gun for firing the round in the chamber. When in ejectionposition, the open side of each firing chamber registers with anejection opening in the opposite side of the breech frame to permitlateral ejection of the spent cartridge case of a fired round, as wellas an unfired round, from the chamber.

The front end of the breech cylinder 14 is exposed through a frontopening in the breech frame 32. Secured to and extending forwardly fromthe front end of the cylinder are gun barrels 38 equal in number to thefiring chambers 34. Each barrel is coaxially aligned with a firingchamber and contains a bore which opens rearwardly to the chamber.

As noted earlier and illustrated in the drawings, the open chamberammunition rounds l2 and breech cylinder firing chambers 34 havecomplementary generally triangular round shapes in transversecross-section. Each round, when positioned in a firing chamber, has onecurved side exposed at the open side of the chamber. This exposed sideof each round is substantially flush with the cylinder circumference.

Mounted on the rear end of the breech frame 32 is a breech cylinderdrive motor 40. During firing operation of the open chamber gun 30, thebreech cylinder 14 is driven in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1 to causerotation of the cylinder firing chambers 34 to their infeed, firing, andejection positions in succession. As will appear presently, theillustrated ammunition feed system 10 operates to feed an ammunitionround 12 to each firing chamber as the latter rotates through infeedposition. During subsequent rotation of each firing chamber throughfiring position, its contained ammunition round is fired by firing means(not shown) embodied in the gun. After firing, each firing chamberrotates to ejection position, wherein the spent cartridge case of thefired round is ejected, and then returns to infeed position to receivethe next live ammunition round from the ammunition feed means 10.

It will become evident to those versed in the art that a variety ofammunition infeed means may be utilized to feed the ammunition rounds 12to the ammunition transfer wheel 22. The particular infeed means 16illustrated is of the type disclosed in the aforementioned copendingapplication. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to describe: the infeedmeans in complete detail. Suffice it to say that the illustratedammunition infeed means 16 comprises an infeed guide 42, in thisinstance a feed chute. which extends between the ammunition storagemagazine 20 and the ammunition transfer wheel 22. This feed chute hastwo longitudinally separable sections 42a and -32b. Section 42a is aninfeed section which is attached at its infeed end to the storagemagazine. The feed chute section 42b is an outfeed section which isattached to the open chamber gun 30. The infeed end of the feed chutesections 42a opens to the interior of the magazine 20 through an exitopening 43 in the forward magazine wall to permit the ammunition rounds12 to feed from the magazine into the feed chute. Rotatably mounted onthe wall, within the lower portion of the exit opening. is a guideroller 44 which protrudes through a bottom opening in the infeed sectionas shown. The outfeed section 42!; of the ammunition feed chute 42 isdisposed between and attached to a pair of parallel frame walls 48.These frame walls are rigidly joined to the front and rear ends of thebreech frame 32 of the open chamber gun 30 and extend from the infeedside of the frame in planes normal to the rotation axis of the breechcylinder 14. The outfeed end of the feed chute section 42b is spacedfrom and opens toward the gun 30. As shown in the drawings, andhereinafter explained in detail, the ammunition transfer wheel 22 isrotatably mounted between the frame walls 48. in the region between theoutfeed end of the outfeed sections 42b and the gun. When loading theillustrated ammunition feed system 10. the loaded ammunition magazine 20is installed in its illustrated feed position. In this position, theinfeed section 42a of the ammunition feed chute 42 is longitudinallyaligned with and opens to the outfeed section 42b of the chute.Removable coupling pins 50 are provided for releasably joining theinfeed section to the frame walls 48.

It will be recalled that the ammunition infeed means 16 embodies anammunition transport mechanism 19 for conveying or transporting theammunition rounds 12 in succession from the storage magazine 20 to theinfeed transfer station I of the ammunition transfer wheel 22. In theparticular infeed means illustrated, the transport mechanism comprises,in part, an ammunition storage bag 52 which contains the ammunitionrounds 12. The rounds are disposed within the bag in side-bysideabutting relation in a row or column extending lengthwise of the bag.The bag is constructed of polyurethane plastic or other suitablematerial and is initially sealed at both ends to contain the rounds inthe bag. According to the invention disclosed in the co-pendingapplication, the ammunition bag is coiled, folded in serpentine fashion.or otherwise placed in the storage magazine 20 in such a way that theleading end of the bag extends through the infeed sections 42a of theammunition infeed chute 42 and is exposed at the open end of thissection. The article transport mechanism 19 further comprises a bagsplitting and feeding means 54 located at a bag feeding and splittingstation S adjacent the leading end of the outfeed chute section 42b.This bag splitting and feeding means comprises a pair of poweredfriction feed rolls 56 which are rotatably mounted between the framewalls 48 at opposite sides of the outfeed chute section. Feed rolls 56are driven in the indicated directions in a manner to be explainedpresently. Located opposite each feed roll is a pressure roller 58. Eachpressure roller is mounted on a supporting bracket 60 which is pivotedon the frame walls 48 for swinging of its pressure roller toward andaway from its adjacent feed roll. The pressure rollers 58 are normallyurged to retracted positions, away from their feed rolls, by springs 62.Solenoids 64 are operatively connected between the roller brackets 60and the frame walls 48 for urging the pressure rollers 58 toward theirrespective feed rolls in response to energizing of the solenoids.

The ammunition transport mechanism 19 is conditioned for operation bysplitting the leading end of the ammunition storage bag 52 for a smalldistance along diametrically opposed parting lines 66 and theninstalling the ammunition magazine 20 in the feed system in the mannerexplained above. When thus installing the storage magazine, the splitleading ends 68 of the ammunition storage bag are threaded between thefriction feed rolls 56 and their adjacent, currently retracted pressurerollers 58. In this regard, it will be observed that when the ammunitionstorage magazine is installed, the adjacent ends of the ammunition feedchute sections 42a, 42b

are spaced a small distance to define therebetween exit openings throughwhich the split bag ends may extend. The infeed chute section 42a mountsguide rollers 70 at opposite sides adjacent these exit openings aroundwhich the split bag ends are trained, as shown. As will appearpresently. during firing operation of the open chamber gun 30, the feedrolls 56 are driven by the breech cylinder drive motor 40 in thedirections indicated. With the feed rolls thus powered. energizing ofthe pressure roller solenoids 64 is effective to urge .ne split bag ends68 into frictional contact with the rolls and thereby cause endwisedriving or feeding of these ends outwardly from the ammunition feedchute 42. According to the invention disclosed in the co-pendingapplication, this outward feeding of the split ends pulls the ammunitionstorage bag 52 endwise from the storage magazine 20. through the infeedsections 42a of the ammunition feed chute, to the bag feeding andsplitting station S and progressively splits the bag endwise along itsparting lines 66 as the bag enters the station. The ammunition rounds 12contained in the bag are thereby dispensed or ejected in succession fromthe bag at the station. Thereafter, the rounds continue to move insuccession through the outfeed section 42b of the ammunition feed chute42 to the infeed transfer station I of the ammunition transfer wheel 22.

The aforementioned co-pending application discloses two differenttechniques for splitting the ammunition storage bag 52 as the latter ispulled through the bag feeding and splitting station S. According to oneof these techniques, the outfeed section 42b of the feed chute 42 mountsblades for slitting the bag along its parting lines 66. According to theother disclosed bag splitting technique, the bag is split with a rippingor tearing action by the divergent, longitudinal feeding forces exertedon the split bag ends 68 by the bag feed rolls 56. In this case, theammunition storage bag 52 may be perforated or otherwise weakened alongits parting lines 66 to facilitate ripping of the bag along these lines.The particular ammunition transport mechanism illustrated employs thislatter bag splitting action.

It is evident at this point that the ammunition infeed means 16 isoperative to convey or transport the ammunition rounds 12 laterally insuccession from the ammunition storage magazine 20 to the infeedtransfer station I of the ammunition transfer wheel 22. The rounds arethus transported along a prescribed infeed path with the rounds disposedin side-byside abutting relation in a column extending lengthwise of thepath. It should be noted here that while the particular ammunitioninfeed means illustrated is ideally suited for use in the present feedsystem, a variety of other infeed means illustrated is ideally suitedfor use in the present feed system, a variety of other infeed means maybe employed. Thus, the present feed system may employ any infeed meanscapable of feeding the ammunition rounds laterally in succession to theinfeed transfer station I in the manner explained above.

The primary contribution of the present invention resides in theconstruction of the transfer wheel 22 and its arrangement in the feedsystem 10. This transfer wheel has a generally cylindrical drum-likebody 72 which is positioned between the frame walls 48 in the regionbetween ammunition infeed opening of the open chamber gun 30 and theoutfeed end of the ammunition feed chute section 42b. The axis of thetransfer wheel extends parallel to the axis of the breech cylinder 14and normal to the infeed path along which the ammunition rounds 12 aretransported to the transfer wheel by the infeed means 16. Extendingcoaxially from the ends of the transfer wheel body are shafts or axes 74which are journaled in bearings 75 on the frame walls 48. As notedearlier, the transfer wheel 22 is driven in rotation by drive means 26including a motor 40 mounted on the rear end of breech frame 32 of thegun 30. Drive means 26 further comprise a drive gear 76 rigid on themotor shaft. This gear meshes with a driven gear 78 rigid on thetransfer wheel 22. The breech cylinder 14 and transfer wheel are thusdriven in unison in the opposite directions of rotation indicated by thearrows in the drawings. For reasons which will appear presently. thepitch diameter of the drive gear 76 and the pitch diameter of the drivengear 78 are so sized that the transfer wheel turns at a somewhat slowerrim speed than the breech cylinder. According to the invention disclosedin the earlier mentioned cosharp tip, as shown. Referring to FIGS. 2through 8, it will be observed that each transfer wheel pocket 24 istapered in cross-section and is bounded by leading and trailing sidewalls 86, 88 provided by the sides of teeth 84. These side walls arecurved to approximately the same radius as the size of each ammunitionround 12 and define an included angle approximating 60. Accordingly eachpocket and ammunition round have generally complementary triangularround shapes in cross-section. In this regard, then, the transfer wheelpockets are similar in shape to the breech cylinder firing chambers 34.Unlike the firing chambers, however, which have planes of symmetrycontaining the breech cylinder axis, the transfer wheel pockets may beinclined or canted forwardly in the direction of transfer wheelrotation, as shown. In this case, the trailing side walls 88 of thetransfer wheel pockets are located substantially in uniformly spacedradial planes containing the rotation axis of the wheel. As aconsequence, the longitudinal planes of symmetry of the pockets, andhence the pockets themselves, then incline forwardly in the direction ofrotation of the transfer wheel. This forward inclination of the pocketsprovides the leading side wall 86 of each pocket with a greater widthdimension, measured between the bottom of the pocket and the tip of thecorresponding transfer wheel tooth 84, than the trailing side wall 88 ofthe pocket. If desired, the pockets may be symmetrical about radialplanes of the transfer wheel.

According to the present invention, the transfer wheel pockets have auniform depth such that the width of the leading pocket side walls 86,measured between the bottoms of the pockets and the tips of thecorresponding transfer wheel teeth 84, is approximately equal to orslightly greater than the corresponding width of each curved side of anammunition round 12. Thus, when an ammunition round is fully seated in atransfer wheel pocket 24, the outer leading apex of the round issubstantially flush with the tip of the immediately preceding transferwheel tooth 84. The outer trailing apex of the round, on the other hand,protrudes a distance radially outward beyond the immediately followingtooth. The outer or exposed side of the round then slopes outwardly atan acute angle relative to the circular path of motion of the round withthe transfer wheel, as may be readily observed in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 5, it will be observed that thetransfer wheel 22 is disposed relative to the ammunition infeed guide 42in such a way that a plane parallel to the rotation axis of the wheeland containing the longitudinal centerline of the guide is approximatelytangent, in the region between the transfer wheel infeed and outfeedstations I, O, to the circular path of motion traversed by thelongitudinal centerlines of the transfer wheel pockets 24. The outfeedend of the ammunition guide is located at the infeed transfer station,closely adjacent the periphery of the transfer wheel and opens towardthe wheel. The transfer wheel pockets 24 and teeth 84 thus rotate insuccession past the open outfeed end of the guide. It will be seen thateach transfer wheel tooth travels through the infeed transfer station Ialong a circular direction line of movement which approaches the stationat an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the ammunitioninfeed guide 42 and then curves away from the outfeed end of the guideto merge tangentially with the axis of the guide and finally curves backtoward the transfer wheel outfeed station 0.

Attached to and located between the frame walls 48, in the regionbetween the open chamber gun and the ammunition infeed guide 42, is acurved ammunition retaining guide 90. This retaining guide iscylindrically curved about the axis of the ammunition transfer wheel 22and extends from the outfeed end of the guide to the breechframe 32 ofthe gun. As shown best in FIGS. 2 through 8. the retaining guide isradially spaced from the transfer wheel 22 a distance just slightlygreater than the radial projection, beyond the tips of the transferwheel teeth 84. of the outer trailing apex edges of the ammunitionrounds I2 contained within the transfer wheel pockets 24. Along thelongitudinal edges of the retaining guide 90 are flanges 92 whichstraddle the transfer wheel in its endwise direction so as to restrainthe ammunition rounds against endwise movement in the wheel pockets.

Considering the operation of the illustrated ammunition feed system 10to this point, the system is conditioned for operation by installing aloaded ammunition magazine 20 in the ammunition infeed means 16 in sucha way that the split leading ends 68 of the ammunition storage bag 52extend outwardly through the exit openings defined between the adjacentends of the ammunition infeed guide sections 42a, 42b and pass betweenthe bag feed rolls 56 and their respective pressure rollers 58. Thebreech cylinder drive motor 40 is then energized to drive the breechcylinder 14, the ammunition transfer wheel 22, and the feed rolls 56 inrotation. The ammunition infeed means 16 remains otherwise inoperativeuntil the pressure roller solenoids 64 are energized. Energizing ofthese solenoids extends the pressure rollers 58 toward their respectivefeed rolls 56 to cause outward feeding of the split bag 'ends 68 fromthe ammunition infeed guide 42. The ammunition storage bag 52 is thenpulled endwise from the magazine 20 through the bag feeding andsplitting station S and is concurrently split lengthwise along itsparting lines 66 as the bag enters the station. The ammunition rounds 12contained in the bag are ejected or dispensed in succession from thesplit leading end of the bag at the station and thereafter pass insuccession through the outfeed section 42b of the ammunition infeedguide 42 to the infeed transfer station I.

At this point, it is significant to note that the adjacent ammunitionrounds 12 in the ammunition infeed column are inverted relative to oneanother. In other words, one set of alternate rounds are disposed withapices thereof adjacent one side of the ammunition infeed guide 42. Theremaining, intervening rounds are disposed with apices thereof adjacentthe opposite side of the guide. The confronting curved sides of theadjacent rounds thus abut one another.

According to the present invention, the rotary speeds of the articletransfer wheel 22 and the feed rolls 56, and the number of ammunitionreceiving pockets 24 in the wheel, are selected to provide the incomingammunition rounds 12 with an effective infeed rate (i.e., rounds perunit time) to the infeed transfer station I which is just slightlygreater than the rate of movement of the transfer wheel pockets (i.e.,pockets per unit time) through the infeed transfer station. In a typicalopen chamber ammunition feed system according to the invention, forexample, the ratio of the ammunition infeed rate to the rate of movementof the transfer wheel pockets is on the order of 1.2 approx.Accordingly, the adjacent. ammunition rounds 12 in the ammunition infeedcolumn are retained in contact, and a generally uniform endwise infeedload is maintained on the column.

As each ammunition round 12 emerges from the outfeed end of theammunition infeed guide 42 into the infeed transfer station I, anapproaching tooth 84 of the ammunition transfer wheel 22 enters betweenthe round and the following round within the infeed guide 42, in themanner illustrated in FIG. 2. The emerging round, which is thencaptivated between the approaching tooth, the immediately precedingtooth, and the curved ammunition retaining guide is moved forwardly bythe approaching tooth into the immediately preceding transfer wheelpocket 24. The round is then transported by the wheel from the infeedtransfer station I to the outfeed transfer station 0 where the round isejected and transferred, in the manner explained below. to the currentlyrotating breech cylinder 14.

At this point. attention is directed to FIGS. 2. 3, 7, and 8 whichillustrate certain unique and beneficial actions which occur in thepresent ammunition feed system 10 during transfer of each ammunitionround 12 from the ammunition infeed guide 42 to the ammunition transferwheel 22. For convenience in the ensuing description. each ammunitionround having an upwardly directed apex, as viewed in the drawings. isdesignated by the subscript a and each intervening round is designatedby the subscript b As each round 12a emerges from the infeed guide 42into the infeed transfer station I. it presents its curved. currentlybottom side toward the approaching transfer wheel tooth 84 and itscurrently upper apex toward the ammunition retaining guide 90. Initialcontact of the approaching tooth with the emerging round involvesengagement of the tooth tip with the confronting bottom side of theround, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8. The tooth then exerts on the round aforce along a line of action tangential to the transfer wheel. Thisforce urges the emerging ammunition round 12a upwardly against andforwardly along the ammunition retaining guide 90 in such a way that theemerging round 12a is subjected to a counterclockwise moment whichrotates the upper apex of the round forwardly and the lower leading apexdownwardly into the adjacent transfer wheel pocket 24.

This action causes the emerging ammunition round 12a to assume a finalposition within the pocket, wherein the currently upper curved side ofthe round seats against and slides along the retaining guide, as shown.

Consider next an ammunition round 12b which emerges from the infeedguide 42 into the infeed transfer station I with an apex of the roundpresented downwardly and toward the approaching tooth 84 of theammunition transfer wheel 22, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. In this case,the thrust of the following ammunition round against the trailing sideof the emerging round produces on the latter round a camming actionwhich urges the upper curved side of the emerging round against theammunition retaining guide 90. Initial contact of the approachingtransfer wheel tooth 84 with the emerging round 12b involves engagementof the tooth tip with the trailing side of the round. Again, the toothexerts a force F on the round which, in this case, urges the roundupwardly against and forwardly along the retaining guide 90 in such away that the round enters the adjacent transfer wheel pocket 24 withoutcounterclockwise rotation of the round as occurred during the transferof the preceding round 12a to the transfer wheel.

It is evident, of course, that the above infeed transfer actions arerepeated for each of the ammunition rounds 12a, 12b as the latter emergein succession from the ammunition infeed guide 42 to the infeed transferstation I. After entrance into their respective transfer wheel pockets24, all of the ammunition rounds assume essentially the same position orattitude relative to their common circular path or direction line ofmotion from the infeed transfer station to the outfeed transfer station0. In these positions, the apices of the rounds are directed inwardlytoward the center of the transfer wheel and the opposing curved sides ofthe rounds slide along the inner surface of the curved ammunition guide90. It is significant to note here that the thrust of the transfer wheelteeth 84 against their engaged ammunition rounds l2 and the frictionaldrag forces exerted on the rounds by the curved ammunition retainingguide 90 produces a clockwise movement, as viewed in FIG. 1, on therounds which causes the latter to assume their illustrated positions. Inthese positions, a clearance 100 exists between the trailing side ofeach round and the trailing side wall 88 of its containing transferwheel pocket 24. The purpose of this clearance will be explainedpresently.

As noted earlier, a significant feature and advantage of the presentinvention resides in the fact that the ammunition rounds l2 undergo atwo-step acceleration during their transfer from the ammunition infeedmeans 16 to the open chamber gun 30. This two-step acceleration permitsinfeed movement of the ammunition rounds to the transfer wheel 22 at arelatively low and uniform infeed velocity. One of these accelerationsoccurs during transfer of the ammunition rounds from the ammunitioninfeed guide 42 to the ammunition transfer wheel 22 and will bediscussed at this point. The second acceleration occurs during transferof the ammunition rounds from the transfer wheel to the breech cylinder14 of the open chamber gun 30 and will be discussed later.

Relative to the first acceleration step. attention is again directed toFIGS. 2. 3, 7. and 8, where it will be observed that each transfer wheeltooth 84 approaches and travels through the infeed transfer station Iwith two velocity components V,, and V,,. Velocity component V,, isnormal to the direction line of infeed movement of the ammunition roundsl2 and is of no consequence. The velocity component V,,, on the otherhand, is parallel to the direct line and is effective to accelerate theemerging ammunition rounds along the direction line. In this connection,it will be noted that the velocity component V,, of each tooth 84 has aninitial magnitude at the instant of initial contact of the tooth with anemerging round 12 at the infeed transfer station I and progressivelyincreases to the rim velocity of the transfer wheel 22 as the toothrotates through the station to a position wherein the tip of the toothis disposed in a plane normal to the direction line and containing thetransfer wheel axis. At this position, the velocity component V,, iszero and the velocity component V,, is maximum. According to the presentinvention, the ammunition transfer wheel 22 is driven at a constantrotary speed such that the velocity component V,, of each wheel tooth 84has an initial magnitude, as the tooth approaches the infeed transferstation I, which approximates the uniform infeed velocity of theammunition rounds 12. In a typical open chamber ammunition feed systemof the kinds illustrated, for example, the ammunition infeed velocity ison the order of 12 feet per second. The ammunition transfer wheel 22 issized and driven at a rotary speed which provides each wheel tooth 84with an initial velocity component V,, on the order of 12.3 feet persecond and a final or rim velocity of 16.1 feet per second.

It is now evident that as each ammunition round 12 emerges from theammunition infeed guide 42 into the infeed transfer station I, the roundis engaged by an approaching transfer wheel tooth 84. The approachingtooth accelerates the emerging round from its infeed velocity along itsinfeed path to a final velocity, equal to the transfer wheel rimvelocity, along the curved path of motion of the transfer wheel teeth insuch a way that the round enters and assumes its illustrated orientedattitude within the adjacent wheel pocket 24. The ammunition round isthen transported by the transfer wheel to the outfeed transfer station0, where the round is ejected to the currently rotating breech cylinder14.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, it will be seen that the curvedammunition retaining guide terminates closely adjacent the breechcylinder 14 of the open chamber gun 30. The cylinder end 90a of theguide is spaced circumferentially of the cylinder from the breech framefiring strap 36 so as to define between the guide end and the strap anammunition infeed opening to the cylinder.

As noted earlier, the ammunition rounds 12 are transferred from thetransfer wheel pockets 24 to the breech cylinder firing chambers 34 bythe ejection means 28. The illustrated ejection means comprise a pair ofstrap-like cams 102 which are attached at one end to the breech framefiring strap 36. The frame ends of these cams are recessed into thefiring strap, as shown, in such a way that the cams are tangentiallydisposed relative to the breech cylinder. The opposite or free ends ofthe cams engage in circumferential grooves 104 formed in the transferwheel 22 adjacent its ends. The free ends of the cams are substantiallyflush with the bottoms of the wheel pockets 24.

As each ammunition round 12 approaches the outfeed transfer station 0 onthe ammunition transfer wheel 22, the round engages the ammunitionejection cams 102 and is thereby cammed laterally out of its containingwheel pocket 24 and through the breech cylinder infeed opening. In thisregard. it will be noted that thc cams act as inclined ramps which aredisposed to engage each ammunition round as the latter moves beyond theend 90a of the curved ammunition retaining guide 90 to a positionopposite the infeed opening and to cam each round laterally through theinfeed opening. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7. it will be observed that therotation of the breech cylinder 14 and the rotation of the transferwheel 22 are so timed that each ammunition round 12 is cammed from itscontaining transfer wheel pocket through the infeed opening concurrentlywith rotation of an empty breech cylinder firing chamber 34 toammunition infeed position opposite the opening to receive the enteringround. Thus. the ammunition rounds are transferred laterally insuccession from the transfer wheel to the firing chambers.

This ammunition outfeed transfer, like the ammunition infeed transferdiscussed earlier. involves certain unique and beneficial actions. Thus,referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, it will be observed that initial contact ofeach ammunition round 12 with the ammunition ejection cams I02 involvesengagement of the inner apex of the round with the free ends of thecams. The trailing side of each round is then engaged by the outer tipof its driving transfer wheel tooth 84. As a consequence. acounterclockwise movement, as viewed in the drawings, is exerted on theround which rotates the outer trailing apex of the round outwardlyrelative to the transfer wheel to a position wherein this apex entersthe breech cylinder firing chamber 34 which is then approachingammunition infeed position. The outer trailing apex of the round is thensituated in the path of rotation of the trailing wall of the approachingchamber. Rotation of this trailing wall into contact with the enteringround thus continues the counterclockwise rotation of the round to theproper attitude for entrance into the firing chamber. The round assumesa final position within the chamber wherein the curved side of the roundwhich is exposed through the open side of the chamber is flush with thecircumference of the breech cylinder 14. The round then rotates with thecylinder to firing position opposite the breech frame firing strap 36,wherein the round is fired.

It is evident from the foregoing discussion, then, that the ammunitionrounds 12 are presented laterally in succession to the rotating breechcylinder 14 in accurately timed relation to rotation of the cylinder andin a predetermined attitude relative to the circular direction line ofmovement of the cylinder firing chambers 34 through their ammunitioninfeed position, such that each round enters a firing chamber. Inconnection with this transfer of each ammunition round from the transferwheel 22 to the breech cylinder 14, it is significant to note that theclearance 100 which initially exists between the inner apex of the roundand the trailing wall 88 of its containing transfer wheel pocket 24permits the round to undergo its above described counterclockwiserotation during transfer to its cylinder firing chamber.

As noted earlier, each ammunition round 12 undergoes a secondacceleration during transfer to the rotating breech cylinder 14. In thisregard, it will be observed that the above described camming actionwhich ejects each round from its containing transfer wheel pocket 24 iseffective to accelerate the round from its intermediate approachvelocity with the transfer wheel 22, i.e. transfer wheel rim velocity,to a final velocity along a linear path of motion merging tangentiallywith the circular path of motion of the breech cylinder firing chambers34. According to the present invention, this final velocity of eachround is made to approximate the rim velocity of the rotating breechcylinder 14.

Briefly reviewing the operation of the illustrated ammunition feedsystem 10. the ammunition rounds 12 are fed laterally in succession tothe infeed transfer station I along a prescribed infeed path by theammunition infeed means 16. This infeed movement of the rounds occurs ata relatively uniform infeed velocity with the rounds disposed inside-by.

side abutting relation. As the rounds emerge in succession from theammunition infeed guide 42 to the infeed transfer station I. they enterthe ammunition receiving pockets 24 in the ammunition transfer wheel 22and are simultaneously accelerated from their uniform velocity to therim velocity of the wheel. The rounds are then transported in successionfrom the infeed transfer station to the outfeed transfer station 0. Asthe rounds approach this latter station. they are cammed from theircontaining transfer wheel pockets and again simultaneously acceleratedfrom their intermediate approach velocity with the transfer wheel to therim velocity of the rotating breech cylinder 14. Each ammunition roundemerges laterally from the transfer wheel into a firing chamber 34 ofthe breech cylinder and then rotates with the cylinder to firingposition within the open chamber gun 30. In the event that theammunition rounds comprise cased ammunition. the spent cases of thefired rounds are ejected from the firing chambers during rotation ofthese chambers through ejection position following firing.

It is now evident that the ammunition rounds I2 undergo an essentiallythree-stage motion through the present ammunition feed system 10. Thethree-stages of this motion are infeed motion through the infeed guide42, transfer motion of the transfer wheel 22, and outfeed motion on thereceiver or breech cylinder 14. These motions occur at differentconstant velocities with acceleration steps between the stages. Thus,the infeed motion occurs at a relatively slow constant infeed velocitywith the adjacent rounds in mutual contact. The rounds are thenaccelerated at the infeed transfer station I from their infeed velocityto a constant, somewhat higher transfer velocity which is the rimvelocity of the transfer wheel. At the outfeed transfer station 0, therounds are again accelerated from their transfer velocity to a final andstill higher outfeed velocity which is the rim velocity of the breechcylinder.

In connection with this three-stage motion of the ammunition rounds 12,it is significant to observe that the number of pockets 24 in thetransfer wheel 22 exceeds the number of chambers 34 in the breechcylinder 14. This feature permits the transfer wheel to turn at anintermediate transfer velocity, that is at a rim velocity which isgreater than the constant infeed velocity of the rounds but less thanthe outfeed or rim velocity of the breech cylinder, and still maintainthe required rate of movement of the rounds, i.e. rounds per unit time,to the breech cylinder, such that each cylinder firing chamber willreceive a round. It will be obvious to those versed in the art that rimspeeds of the transfer wheel and breech cylinder will be in a ratiowhich is inversely proportional to the ratio of the number of transferwheel pockets and cylinder chambers.

It is now evident that the transfer wheel and breech cylinder, rotate atconstant speeds and are correctly timed with respect to their angularvelocities and angular position so that the transfer wheel pockets andcylinder chambers rotate in unison through the outfeed transfer station,as explained. The bag feed solenoids 64, on the other hand, are notenergized simultaneously but in random fashion. When these solenoids areenergized, the column of incoming rounds is set in motion. The forcesthen exerted on the ammunition bag are of such magnitude as toaccelerate the column to the required infeed speed, i.e. feed rate, whenthe first round in the column makes contact with the transfer wheel.Since at that time the rounds are not necessarily synchronized with thetransfer wheel, the first round may contact the tooth of the wheel asfollows:

a. In the proper timing for entrance into a wheel pocket (as ifsynchronized with the wheel).

b. Too early.

In the event condition (a) above occurs, the operation proceeds asdescribed earlier. If condition (b) occurs, the infeed motion of theammunition column is slowed until a transfer wheel pocket is properlylocated relative to the first round, after which the operation proceedsas described. If desired, a solenoid actuated gate may be mounted on theinfeed guide 42 at the infeed transfer station for extension into thepath of the incoming rounds when the bag feed solenoids 64 arede-energized, so as to block passage of rounds to the transfer wheel.and retraction clear of the path when the latter solenoids are energizedto resume feeding of rounds.

The present ammunition feed system provides several advantages. First.it permits firing of unattached or beltless ammunition rounds. thuseliminating the problems and costs. discussed earlier. attendant of abelt-type ammunition infeed system. Secondly, the two-step accelerationof the incoming ammunition rounds which occurs in the present feedsystem permits the ammunition rounds in the infeed ammunition columnapproaching the infeed transfer station I to be disposed in side-by-sideabutting relation, whereby a given ammunition infeed rate (i.e., roundsper unit time) may be achieved with a minimum infeed velocity of therounds. Third. this relatively slow infeed motion of the incomingammunition rounds occurs at a generally constant infeed velocity. Thus.the earlier discussed problems, i.e. excessive power requirements. etc.,which attend ammunition feed systems requiring intermittent arrestingand acceleration of an entire infeed column of incoming rounds areavoided. In this regard. it is significant to note that the acceleratingaction which occurs in the present feed system has two unique features.First. the masses which are accelerated are individual ammunition roundsrather than an entire group or column of rounds. Secondly, each round isaccelerated from its infeed velocity to its final velocity. i.e. the rimspeed of the breech cylinder 14 in two-steps or stages rather than in asingle step or stage. These features minimize the acceleration forces onthe rounds. thereby avoiding damage to the rounds and reducing th powerrequirements.

lclaim:

1. In an open chamber ammunition handling system for discrete unattachedopen chamber ammunition rounds of generally equilateral triangular roundshape in transverse cross-section, the combination comprising:

ammunition transfer means having an infeed transfer station and anoutfeed transfer station;

ammunition infeed means for conveying said rounds laterally insuccession to said infeed station and there dispensing said rounds insuccession to said transfer means including a guide having a widthapproximating the height of each round measured between an apex and theopposite side of the round for guiding said rounds to said infeedstation with the rounds disposed side-by-side in an infeed columnwherein the length of each round is transverse to the column, and theadjacent rounds are inverted relative to one another and haveconfronting rounded sides in seating contact; and

said transfer means including a rotary ammunition transfer wheel havinga number of relatively slender tapered circumferentially spaced teethdefining intervening ammunition receiving pockets opening laterallythrough the circumference of said wheel, means rotatably supporting saidwheel for rotation of said pockets in succession through said stationsin alternate sequence in such manner that each pocket receives a roundfrom said infeed means at said infeed station during movement of therespective pocket through said infeed station and thereafter transportsits contained round to said outfeed station, means for driving saidwheel in rotation. and ejection cam means in the path of rotation ofsaid pockets through said outfeed station for camming each roundlaterally from its containing pocket during rotation of the respectiveround through said outfeed station, each transfer wheel pocket having agenerally V-shape for receiving a round apex first and generallymatching the received apex portion of the round. each pocket beingbounded by leading and trailing sidewalls relative to the direction ofwheel rotation which are provided by the sides of the adjacent transferwheel teeth, said sidewalls of each pocket defining an included angle ofapproximately 60, the trailing wall of each pocket being disposedsubstantially in a radial plane containing the rotation axes of saidtransfer wheel, and the leading wall of each pocket inclining forward inthe direction of wheel rotation and having a concave curvatureapproximately matching the curvature of each rounded side of anammunition round, whereby said rounds enter said pockets without jammingat said infeed station and are cammed from said pockets without jammingat said outfeed station.

The combination according to claim 1, including:

an open chamber gun having a rotary ammunition receiver means fordriving said ammunition receiver in timed relation with and in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of said transfer wheelto cause unified movement of said chambers and pockets in the samedirection through said outfeed station; and

id ejection cam means comprise inclined ramp means at said outfeedstation engagable with the round contained within each transfer wheelpocket during its rotation through said outfeed station and extendingfrom said transfer wheel toward said receiver at an acute angle relativeto the rotary path of motion of said pockets and chambers through saidoutfeed station such that the leading wall of each pocket generallyparallels said ramp as the respective wall travels past said ramp forcamming 1 each round laterally from its containing transfer wheel pocketinto the corresponding receiver chamber.

